Running-board extension



J. H. EATON RUNNING BOARD EXTENSION Dec. 18, .1923. 1,47%311 Filed July 9, 1925 mjm thrown Patented Dec. 18, 1923.

PFldl t l JAMES H. EATON, OF UNION COUNTY, INDIANA.

Application filed July 9,

Z all whom 2'25 may concern e it known that I, dunes H. EATON, a citizen the -iinited States, residing in Union County, in the State of Indiana, have invented new and useful Construction Comprising a Running-Board Extension, of which the following is a full, clear, and comprehensive specification and exposition, the same being such as will enable others to make and use the same with exactitude. The object of my present invention, broadly speaking, is to provide an attachment for automobiles, the same being simple in character, strong and durable in con struction, inofiensive in appearance, highly ultilitarian in practice, and. which can be manufactured, installed, and sold at a comparatively low price.

lilore specifically stated, my object is to provide an extension for running-boards of automobiles, by which the capacity of the ruuningboards for carrying merchandise will be greatly increased, at the same time providing additional space which will not be in the way when not in use as it may be turned under the main running-board when its services are not required where it will be inconspicuous and out: of "the way. 7

Gther objects and particular advantages of the invention will suggest themselves in the course of the following description and that which is new will be correlated in the appended claims.

The preferred means for carrying out the principles of my invention in a practical manner is shown in the accompanying drawings in whichlfigure 1 is a side elevation of a portion of an automobile, showing my invention in connection therewith in closed or inoperative position. Figure 2 is a cross section of the invention showing the same in open or operative position. Figure 3 is a cross section, as taken on the line 3-43 of Fig. 1, showing the invention closed or in inoperative position. Figure lis a detail cross section of one of the guideburs; and Figure 5 a front elevation of one of the guide-arm brackets or hangers.

Similar indices denote like parts through out the several views.

In order that the construction, the operation, and the several advantages of the invention may be more fully understood and appreciated I will now take up a detailed RUNNING-BOARD EXTENSION.

1923. Serial No. 650,295.

description thereof, in which I will set forth the same as comprehensively as I may.

In the drawings letter denotes the body of an automobile, connected with which are the usual fenders B and C, and the longitudinal sheet-metal guard D. Letter E denotes the conventional permanent runhing-hoard, which extends out from the guard D and it extends between the fenders B and C. However said parts are shown only to make clear the application of my invention with relation thereto.

The invention proper comprises the ex tension running-board l, which corresponds in thickness, and preferably in length, with the running-board E, but it is of lesswidth, and it is adapted to be placed on the same plane therewith and form an outwardly projecting continuation thereof.

Rigidly secured on the rear edge of the extension 1, preferably extending the full length thereof, with its upper half extend.- ing rearward, is the angle-iron flange 2, whose under face is in line with the surface of the extension 1, when the device is in operative position.

An inwardly foldable rack 3 may be hinged at its lower edge to the outer edge of the extension 1, which may extend upward as in Fig. 2, or it may be folded back upon the extension 1 as in Fig. 3.

The said extension is carried and supported by a plurality of devices which are identical with each other, one of which will be described. in detail while the parts which are shown of the others will be denoted by like indices without special description thereof.

Secured to the underside of the rear portion of the running-board E are the guidearm brackets or hangers 4, which have a square aperture 5 formed through the downwardly extending head portion there of, as shown in Fig. 5.

Numeral 6 denotes the guide-bar, formed of channel-iron. which fits slidably in the aperture 5. A head 7 is located on the rear end of the bar 6 to engage the bracket 4 in order to limit the forward endwise move ment of the bar 6.

Numerals 8 and 9 denote, respectively, the forward and rearward links, their lower ends being located in the channel of the bar 6 where they are mounted to the respective pivots l0 and 11. The upper ends of said links a e r flec ed by h respective P ots l2 and 13, which are carried by the respective hangers 1% and 15. Said hangers are secured to the under side of the extension 1 in such positionthat the links 8 and 9 will move parallel with each other when the extension 1 is moved forwa d and rearward.

Numeral 16 denotes a sprin secured to bracket 4:, from which it extends downward and'forward, with its curved lower end in resilient contact with the guide-bar 6, to retain the several parts in place and preventing rattling.

If new the device'be out of operative position, as in Figs. 1 and 3, and desiring to use the invention, one has only to pull outward on the extension, moving it to its limit, that is until the head 7 engages the bracket 4;. The rack 3 may then be raised to vertical position. Then by lifting upward on the extension 1 and moving it rearward on the links, but without moving the bars 6, it is evident that the extension will assume the position in which it is shown in Fig. 2, at which time the flange 2 will engage over the forward edge portion of the running-board, and as the links are then turned whereby the pivots 12 and 13 will be rearward of the pivots 10 and 11, it will be back beyond dead-center, therefore the more weight applied to the extension 1 will only make the extension engage more firmly -the forward edge of the running-board, and

tension the' capacity of the running-board by reason of the flange 2'tl1e weight car- .ried by the extension will be carried by the running-board E, and by reason of the ex- '-will be greatly increased.

Desiring now to dispense with the use of the extension one has only to lift up the extension and move it to the position in which it is shown by dotted lines in Fig. 2,;

then closing the rack 3, the device may then slide under the running-board to the position in which is shown in Fig. 3.

I desire that it be understood that varifrom the spirit of the invention and without sacrificing any of the advantages there of which are new and useful and which involve invention.

Having now fully shown and described my invention what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is

1. In combination with an automobile having a stationary running-board, an extension adapted to extend out forming'a lateral continuation of the stationary running-board, slidable bars extending across underneath boththe running-board and the extension, a guide bracket through which each of said bars operate, said brackets beingsecured to the underside of the runningboard, links pivoted to said arm, and to said extension, and means whereby the extension will be supported by the runningboard.

2. In combination with a running-board, an extension therefor corresponding therewith, an angle iron secured to the rear edge of the extension and adapted to engage, over the front edge of the running-board a chain extension may be moved forward and rearward independently of the movement of said channel bar. y

3. In combination with a running-board, an extension therefor, a flange formed by an angle-iron secured to the rear edge of the extension and adapted to overlap theforward edge of the running-board, means for slidably supporting the extension whereby it may slide underneath the running board orb'e pulled outward to the level of the running-board, and means for retaining the extension in closed position under the running-board and also preventing rat-- tling, all substantially as set forth.

in testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name to this specification.

JAMES H. EATON, 

